How do I help my top girl become more assertive with the rest of the runners?

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14 years ago 09/05/2009 3:11pm EDT

The top girl this year is a senior and very dedicated to running. She ran all summer (60-70 mpw) and because of this, though she may not be the most talented, has put in the hard work and miles and is the best on the team. She finished first in our first meet and was voted captain along with 2 other girls... because typically it's the faster/fastest girls who tend to be captains (we do have one JV captain though). The thing is that she is a bit shy at times. She knows a LOT about running (she reads messageboards like these a lot, and other useful tools) but I think is just a bit embarrassed to talk a lot about it... you know how things are with high school, I'm sure many of us have experienced it where others think we are a bit weird for knowing so much about running. She also follows all the pro meets etc. (I talk to her a lot about them) but tends to keep quiet about it except with a few other people. The other coach that we have doesn't really follow running, etc. either and I'd say our top girl knows more than them... what I'm trying to say is, how can I encourage her to share her knowledge with the team, help out the team, be more assertive, lead workouts a lot, etc? I think those qualities are all there, they just need to be brought out. Any suggestions?

14 years ago 09/05/2009 3:19pm EDT

re: coaching .

coaching . wrote:
She knows a LOT about running
She reads messageboards like these a lot

If coaching doesn't work out, you have a future in standup comedy.

14 years ago 09/05/2009 3:25pm EDT

re: adam sandbagler

Well I know she reads dyestat and she might occasionally check Letsrun, but I decided I would take the chance and post this here anyway...

14 years ago 09/05/2009 5:28pm EDT

re: coaching .

Just let her lead by example.

Other runners will take notice and ask her how she got to where she is and that will help the other girls.

Also, you may not see how she is with the other girls when you are not around. I know there are sometimes girls, especially runners, that seem shy, but are quite different when they are running, more open and funnier. If you are with them too much, let them go on their own once in a while. I remember in HS taking runs to Ben & Jerry's :) and other days that the coach wasn't there. Anyway, if she is not more open when on her own, just let her be herself!!

HS running should be about fun and getting to know each other and creating an encouraging atmosphere that young people can find out what they are made of. You are setting them up to make running a part of their lives for the rest of their lives.

14 years ago 09/05/2009 5:56pm EDT

re: coaching .

I think Frozen north is mostly on track, though in response to Ben & Jerry's, there were a few runners on my team who'd have a smoke together when the coach wasn't around (though I think it ended when they got more serious). I think encouraging other girls to ask her how she became good would present them with info from a peer, where it might be more readily accepted. Also, it might get her talking more, about the work she put in and seen as more of a leader.

14 years ago 09/06/2009 10:38am EDT

re: coaching .

Don't force her to change just because she was voted captain. I was made captain of my college team last year and I had no desire to be, but I was sort of considered the team leader because I was the fastest and always there for workouts and tried to always be positive. Being captain pretty much ruined my season because I always felt obligated to take care of the really slow/new runners and even the faster runners who needed advice or were having problems, making sure everything was going well with them. It took my focus entirely off my preparation and racing and I raced very poorly.

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How do I help my top girl become more assertive with the rest of the runners?

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